Oven Fried Green Tomato Caprese Stacks.

I would tell you this was chocolate if it was opposite day. Buuuut. Um I don’t know what the opposite of chocolate is in this situation, so let’s just pretend it’s balsamic glaze? Win win.

No really though, what IS the opposite of chocolate? Is it vanilla? I think that’s too boring. I’m going to make something else up.

And where did opposite day come from anyway? Was it ever a real thing? I mean, like a real thing as a tween, not a REAL real thing, like as in the world. I think for me it developed in second or third grade or something, probably right behind the copycat game. You know that game… someone says something, and then you repeat every single word they say… right after they say them? It’s not annoying or anything. And eventually they say “stop copying me” or “stop repeating me” or something of the sort. So yeah. Opposite day followed right behind that. And it most likely happened because somebody asked me really nicely to do a terrible chore, and I sweetly agreed before knowing what the horrible chore really was. So after I said yes, I was all “oh sorry… it’s opposite day.”

Things I would tell you if it really WAS opposite day:

No, of course I didn’t just spend nearly 10 minutes drawing on the shower door, while in the shower, cranking up the hot water so there was more steam so I could draw more hearts with arrows through them. Oh and I DEFINITELY did not write my 6th grade boyfriend’s name on the door just to see if it still looked the same. [6th grade boyfriend? hello oxymoron.]

Nah… I really don’t think Eric Northman is all that hot.

I’m not obsessive at all. About anything.

[That sums it up. At least for today.]

Oh and opposite day is totally making a comeback right? And it’s all because of Pinterest and those “said no one ever” quotes. It’s like the adult (or err… young adult? immature adult?) version of opposite day. They’re getting a bit ridiculous (read: not so funny) these days, besides my personal favorite of course.

Duh.

So in true opposite day fashion, you probably shouldn’t make this at all. Not even once. It’s not delicious, the tomatoes are not crunchy and the cheese is not gooey. And the glaze is not perfectly sweet.

12 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced into rounds (ideally the same size as the tomatoes)

12 large fresh basil leaves

balsamic glaze for drizzling

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top, spraying it with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, combine panko, bread crumbs, cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper and cayenne, mixing thoroughly to combine. In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Take each slice of green tomato and coat it in the beaten egg, then dredge it through the bread crumb mix, pressing on both sides to adhere. Gently place the tomato on the wire rack and repeat with the remaining slices. Once finished, spray each tomato with olive oil (or non-stick spray, whatever you have). Bake for 25-30 minutes, until tomatoes are crispy and golden.

Once finished, remove gently from the wire rack. Assemble stacks of alternating tomatoes, mozzarella rounds and basil leaves, finishing it all off with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serve immediately.

these look absolutely delicious and your photography is amazing!

Thank you!

Reading your posts makes me realize that I’m living in a foodie box. You’ve unknowingly brought to my attention that I’ve yet to try avocados and now fried green tomatoes. What else on earth am I missing out on? I anxiously await your next post for that revelation, Jessica. Speak to me! ;-)

Wow!! I need these stat!! Very creative way to serve fried green tomatoes…and I love that you baked the tomatoes!!

Mmm this looks amazing Jess! I loooove balsamic on everything from salads to strawberries. About the whole chocolate thing, I suspected that’s what the drizzle might be when I saw the first pic, and was thrilled to read that it was balsamic glaze. Having said that, you’re right, I definitely wouldn’t have been surprised if it was chocolate!

I love fried green tomatoes. You made them healthier by baking them and paired them with fresh mozzarella and balsamic glaze…WOW! I say it all the time, but you a culinary genius, Jessica! :-)

This looks awesome, at the end of growing season, I will definitely try this rather than pickling them all… Even on opposite day, I don’t think I could tell Eric he couldn’t chew on me… but I would try :)

Balsamic Glaze is definitely the “chocolate” in this dish…or wait…maybe the mozzarella!

I am totally making this for dinner tonight. Since moving to England (side note: don’t even get me started on the Trader Joe’s and Target withdrawals) I haven’t been able to find Panko bread crumbs. Do you think I can use all regular breadcrumbs?

They should have some at your grocery store or maybe even a farmer’s market, usually for this purpose. For instance mine were in a bin labeled “green tomatoes for frying.”

As if you wouldn’t let Eric take a little nibble! I know you are a showtime/HBO kind of girl. If you want to check out a train wreck kind of show watch Polyamory. You want to divert your eyes but somehow catch yourself not breathing because you are so dumbfounded by what is happening in front of you!!

I love balsamico glaze…. adds that zip to lots of things! These look great. Oven baked is even better.

I’m actually loving the “said no one ever” posts…but I’ve only seen like three. I’m sure it’s getting pretty ridiculous. :) This caprese stack is screaming at me to make it tonight, or for lunch maybe? Either way, I’m all over it.

I love fried green tomatoes–although I’m bummed because I haven’t seen any green tomatoes anywhere recently. I think they came around when people started doing this with un-ripe tomatoes that fell from plants, pretty cool, huh?

I love fried green tomatoes – and I’m loving this healthier version!

Beautiful photography Jessica! And delicious!

Hello, gorgeous stack of delectable caprese! [and no, not in true Opposite Day fashion] I spent last night catching up with a high school friend, and we came to some of the same conclusions of our childhood. The world was just so, so small then.

Oh yum!!!!! Everything fried can be as good baked if you know how to do it! Your first picture is AMAZING!!!

Those “said no one ever” quotes are the current version of saying “NOT!!” after saying something. Also they are really annoying. Also also, I actually DID think that you were drizzling chocolate on vegetables, because I believe that’s something you would do. I feel like I know you at this point :)

These look precious! I’ve been eating fried green tomatoes with cashew relish because that’s the way I’ve always had them… Maybe it’s time for game changers. My roommate told me about a special salad he had of shaved green tomatoes and green tomato croquettes.